Interior electrochromic mirror assembly

ABSTRACT

An interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes front and rear substrates with a perimeter seal that spaces said front substrate from said rear substrate and establishes an interpane cavity therebetween for an electrochromic medium. The front substrate has a front connecting portion that extends outboard from the perimeter seal and the rear substrate has a rear connecting portion that extends outboard from the perimeter seal. The front and rear connecting portions may be established partially along the same perimeter region of the reflective element or along adjacent perimeter regions of the reflective element. Electrical connection to the transparent electrically conductive coating at the second surface of the front substrate is established at the front connecting portion of the front substrate and electrical connection to the electrically conductive coating of the third surface of the rear substrate is established at the rear connecting portion of the rear substrate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/480,331, filed Jun. 8, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,813,023,which claims benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No.61/059,945, filed Jun. 9, 2008, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to interior rearview mirror systems ofvehicles and, more particularly, to interior rearview mirror systemshaving variably reflectant electro-optic, such as electrochromic,interior rearview mirror assemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automotive electrochromic mirror reflective element cell assemblies areknown and typically include a front substrate and a rear substrate andan electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween and contained within aninterpane cavity. The front substrate typically includes a transparentconductive coating established at its rearward surface (the surfacefacing the rear substrate and the electrochromic medium) and the rearsubstrate typically includes a conductive coating (such as a metallicreflector coating or coatings and/or a transparent conductive coating orcoatings) established at its front surface (the surface facing the frontsubstrate and the electrochromic medium). Electrical connectors areprovided, typically as metallic busbar clips that extend substantiallyalong respective edges of the substrates, to provide electrical currentto the conductive coatings to control the dimming or darkening of theelectrochromic medium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an interior rearview mirror assembly fora vehicle that includes connecting tabs at perimeter edge regions of themirror substrate for providing enhanced electrical connection to theconductive coatings of the electro-optic reflective element assembly orcell. The connecting tabs allow for enhanced electrical connection andmay provide a lower height or profile of the reflective element assemblyand of the mirror assembly.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a reflective elementassembly for an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle comprises a frontsubstrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the firstsurface, and a rear substrate having a third surface and a fourthsurface opposite the third surface. The second surface of the frontsubstrate has a transparent conductive layer established thereat and thethird surface of the rear substrate has a conductive layer establishedthereat. A perimeter seal is disposed between the front and rearsubstrates, with the perimeter seal spacing the front and rearsubstrates apart and forming an interpane cavity therebetween. Anelectro-optic medium is disposed in the interpane cavity establishedbetween the third surface of the rear substrate and the second surfaceof the front substrate and bounded by the perimeter seal, and theelectro-optic medium contacts the transparent conductive layer at thesecond surface of the front substrate and the conductive layer at thethird surface of the rear substrate. The front substrate has a firstcross dimension that is greater than a corresponding cross dimension ofthe rear substrate so as to establish a first connecting tab of thefront substrate, with the first connecting tab extending beyond acorresponding edge region of the rear substrate. The rear substrate hasa second cross dimension that is greater than a corresponding crossdimension of the front substrate so as to establish a second connectingtab of the rear substrate, with the second connecting tab extendingbeyond a corresponding edge region of the front substrate. One of thefirst and second cross dimensions comprises a generally vertical widthdimension of the substrates when the reflective element assembly isnormally mounted in a vehicle, and another of the first and second crossdimensions comprises a generally horizontal length dimension of thesubstrates when the reflective element assembly is normally mounted in avehicle. The first connecting tab facilitates electrical connection tothe transparent conductive coating of the second surface of the frontsubstrate and the second connecting tab facilitates electricalconnection to the conductive coating of the third surface of the rearsubstrate.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a reflectiveelement assembly for an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle comprisesfront and rear substrates, with the front substrate having a perimeteredge region comprising a first cutout region and a first connecting taband the rear substrate having a perimeter edge region comprising asecond cutout region and a second connecting tab. The first connectingtab extends beyond a perimeter edge of the second cutout region of therear substrate and the second connecting tab extends beyond a perimeteredge of the first cutout region of the front substrate. The firstconnecting tab facilitates electrical connection to the transparentconductive coating of the second surface of the front substrate and thesecond connecting tab facilitates electrical connection to theconductive coating of the third surface of the rear substrate.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include an information display, suchas a video display screen. The video display screen may be disposedrearward of and behind the reflective element assembly such that displayinformation displayed by the video display screen is viewable by thedriver of the vehicle through the reflective element, and optionallythrough the transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element,when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an interior rearview mirror and display inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the interior rearview mirror taken alongthe line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 1B is a sectional view of the interior rearview mirror taken alongthe line B-B in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of another interior rearview mirror in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the interior rearview mirror taken alongthe line A-A in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the interior rearview mirror taken alongthe line B-B in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, a rearview mirror system includes an electro-optic reflectiveelement assembly 10 (such as for an interior rearview mirror assembly)having a front substrate 12 and a rear substrate 14 and an electro-opticmedium 16, such as an electrochromic medium or the like, sandwichedtherebetween (FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B). The front substrate 12 is formed tohave a cross dimension that is greater than a corresponding crossdimension of the rear substrate so as to establish a first overhang orconnecting region 18 for establishing electrical connection to the frontsubstrate, while the rear substrate 14 is formed to have a crossdimension that is greater than a corresponding cross dimension of thefront substrate so as to establish a second overhang or connectingregion 20 for establishing electrical connection to the rear substrate,as discussed below.

In the illustrated embodiment, the front substrate 12 comprises atransparent glass substrate having a transparent conductive coating 22established over its rear surface 12 a (the surface opposing theelectro-optic medium, commonly referred to as the second surface of themirror assembly), while the rear substrate 14 comprises a transparentglass substrate having a conductive coating 24 (such as a metallicreflective or transflective conductive coating for a third surfacereflector or such as a transparent conductive coating for a fourthsurface reflector) established over its front surface 14 a (the surfaceopposing the electro-optic medium, commonly referred to as the thirdsurface of the mirror assembly). The electro-optic medium is establishedbetween the front and rear substrates and in a cavity sealed by aperimeter seal 26 disposed around the perimeter of the principalreflecting region of the mirror assembly.

The perimeter seal 26 is disposed between the front and rear substratesand spaces the front and rear substrates apart and forms an interpanecavity therebetween. The electro-optic medium 16, such as anelectrochromic medium, is disposed in the interpane cavity establishedbetween the third surface 14 a of the rear substrate 14 and the secondsurface 12 a of the front substrate 12 and bounded by the perimeter seal26. The electro-optic medium 16 contacts the transparent conductivecoating or layer 22 at the second surface of the front substrate and theconductive layer 24, such as a metallic layer or layers or such as atransflective metallic reflector or the like, at the third surface ofthe rear substrate

The electro-optic medium 16 is electrically darkened to dim or reducethe reflectivity of the reflective element assembly by applying anelectrical current to the conductive coatings 22, 24 on the front andrear substrates via electrical connections made thereto. In theillustrated embodiment, the vertical cross dimension or height dimensionof the front substrate 12 is greater than the height dimension of therear substrate 14 so that when the upper edges of the front and rearsubstrates are substantially aligned or flush with one another, thelower edge region of the front substrate 12 extends beyond the loweredge region of the rear substrate 14. The lower edge region of the frontsubstrate 12 thus establishes an overhang region or connecting tab 18(FIGS. 1 and 1A) for facilitating electrical connection to thetransparent conductor 22 at rear surface 12 a of front substrate 12,such as via an electrical clip or the like. Likewise, the lateral crossdimension or width dimension of the rear substrate 14 may be greaterthan the lateral cross dimension of the front substrate 12 so that whenone of the side perimeter edges of the front and rear substrates aresubstantially aligned or flush with one another, the other side edgeregion of the rear substrate 14 extends beyond the corresponding sideedge region of the front substrate 12. The side edge region of the rearsubstrate 14 thus establishes an overhang region or connecting tab 20(FIGS. 1 and 1B) for facilitating electrical connection to the conductor24 at front surface 14 a of rear substrate 14, such as via an electricalclip or the like.

Thus, the reflective element assembly 10 provides isolated connectingtabs or regions 18, for establishing the electrical connection to therespective conductive coating or coatings 22, 24. The reflective elementassembly 10 thus provides for enhanced electrical connection to theconductive coatings while providing a reduced height profile of thereflective element assembly and thus a reduced overall height of theassembled mirror as installed in the vehicle.

Optionally, and as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the interior mirrorassembly 11 may include the reflective element assembly 10 and a displayelement or display screen 32. The mirror assembly includes a bezeland/or casing portion 11 a that supports the reflective element, whichmay be configured for use with the display element or display screen 32or the like disposed at the rear of the reflective element and operableto project or emit illumination or display information through thereflective element assembly for viewing by the driver of the vehiclewhen the mirror assembly is normally installed in the vehicle. Thereflective element assembly may include a window established through thethird surface reflector 24 at the display area or the third surfacereflector 24 may comprise a transflective reflector that is partiallyreflectant of light incident thereon and is partially transmissive of atleast the light emitted by the display element disposed to the rear ofthe reflective element assembly.

The reflective element assembly 10 may comprise an electrically variablereflectance mirror reflector, such as an electro-optic reflectiveelement assembly or cell, such as an electrochromic reflective elementassembly or cell. For example, the reflective element assembly maycomprise an electro-optic or electrochromic reflective element or cell,such as an electrochromic mirror assembly and electrochromic reflectiveelement utilizing principles (including transflective principles)disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,370,983; 7,338,177;7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 6,690,268; 5,140,455; 5,151,816;6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544; 5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756;5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187;5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407; 4,824,221; 5,818,636; 6,166,847;6,111,685; 6,392,783; 6,710,906; 6,798,556; 6,554,843; 6,420,036;5,142,406; 5,442,478; and/or 4,712,879, and/or 4,712,879, and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 by Hutzel etal. (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1123); and/or Ser. No. 11/226,628, filedSep. 14, 2005 by Karner et al. (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1236), and/orInternational Pat. Publication Nos. WO 2004/098953, published Nov. 18,2004; WO 2004/042457, published May 21, 2004; WO 2003/084780, publishedOct. 16, 2003; and/or WO 2004/026633, published Apr. 1, 2004, which areall hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, and/orsuch as disclosed in the following publications; N. R. Lynam,“Electrochromic Automotive Day/Night Mirrors”, SAE Technical PaperSeries 870636 (1987); N. R. Lynam, “Smart Windows for Automobiles”, SAETechnical Paper Series 900419 (1990); N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal,“Automotive Applications of Chromogenic Materials”, Large AreaChromogenics Materials and Devices for Transmittance Control, C. M.Lampert and C. G. Granquist, EDS., Optical Engineering Press, Wash.(1990), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Although shown and described as being a reflective element assembly foran interior rearview mirror assembly, it is envisioned that aspects ofthe reflective element assembly 10 may be suitable for exterior mirrorapplications, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Optionally, the mirror reflective element may comprise aframeless reflective element, such as by utilizing aspects of thereflective elements described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,184,190; 7,255,451;7,274,501; and/or 7,360,932, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 15, 2006 by Donnelly Corp. et al.; PCTApplication No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp.et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004,as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No.7,626,749; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1236); and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 (AttorneyDocket DON01 P-1123), which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties. Optionally, the reflective element may include ametallic perimeter band around the perimeter of the reflective element,such as by utilizing aspects of the reflective elements described inU.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567,filed May 15, 2006 by Donnelly Corp, et al.; PCT Application No.PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al, forELECTROCHROMIC MIRROR ASSEMBLY; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/35381, filed Nov. 5, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al, forELECTRO-OPTIC REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No.7,626,749; and/or Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 by Karner etal. for MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR MIRROR (Attorney DocketDON01 P-1236), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties. The frameless reflective element thus is aestheticallypleasing to a person viewing the mirror assembly, since the reflectiveelement (as recessed or partially recessed in the opening of the bezelportion of the mirror casing) does not include a separate frame or bezelportion around its perimeter edge. The metallic perimeter band may beselected to have a desired color or tint to match or contrast a colorscheme or the like of the vehicle, such as described in PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 15, 2006 by Donnelly Corp. et al.;and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 byDonnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published onDec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772, and/orU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2007, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,626,749, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

Optionally, use of an elemental semiconductor mirror, such as a siliconmetal mirror, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,338,177; 6,286,965;6,196,688; 5,535,056; 5,751,489; and 6,065,840, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, can beadvantageous because such elemental semiconductor mirrors (such as canbe formed by depositing a thin film of silicon) can be greater than 50percent reflecting in the photopic (SAE J964a measured), while beingalso substantially transmitting of light (up to 20 percent or evenmore). Such silicon mirrors also have the advantage of being able to bedeposited onto a flat glass substrate and to be bent into a curved (suchas a convex or aspheric) curvature, which is also advantageous sincemany passenger-side exterior rearview mirrors are bent or curved.

Optionally, the electrochromic circuitry and/or a glare sensor (such asa rearward facing glare sensor that receives light from rearward of themirror assembly and vehicle through a port or opening along the casingand/or bezel portion and/or reflective element of the mirror assembly)and circuitry and/or an ambient light sensor and circuitry may beprovided on one or more circuit boards of the mirror assembly.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B, an electro-opticreflective element assembly 10′ (such as for an interior rearview mirrorassembly) may have a front substrate 12′ and a rear substrate 14′ and anelectro-optic medium 16′, such as an electrochromic medium or the like,sandwiched therebetween, with the front substrate 12′ formed to have afirst tab portion or overhang or connecting region 18′ (FIGS. 2 and 2A)for establishing electrical connection to the front substrate and therear substrate 14′ formed to have a second tab portion or overhang orconnecting region 20′ (FIGS. 2 and 2B) for establishing electricalconnection to the rear substrate.

In the illustrated embodiment, the front substrate 12′ comprises atransparent glass substrate having a transparent conductive coating 22′established over its rear surface 12 a′ (the surface opposing theelectro-optic medium, commonly referred to as the second surface of themirror assembly), while the rear substrate 14′ comprises a transparentglass substrate having a conductive coating 24′ (such as a metallicreflective or transflective conductive coating for a third surfacereflector or such as a transparent conductive coating for a fourthsurface reflector) established over its front surface 14 a′ (the surfaceopposing the electro-optic medium, commonly referred to as the thirdsurface of the mirror assembly). The electro-optic medium is establishedbetween the front and rear substrates and in a cavity sealed by aperimeter seal 26′ disposed around the perimeter of the principalreflecting region of the mirror assembly.

In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical cross dimension or heightdimension of a portion of the front substrate 12′ (such as approximatelyhalf of the front substrate) is greater than the height dimension of thecorresponding portion of the rear substrate 14′ (and greater than theremaining portion of the front substrate) so that when the upper edgesof the front and rear substrates are substantially aligned or flush withone another, the lower edge region or tab portion 18′ of the frontsubstrate 12′ extends beyond the corresponding lower edge region of therear substrate 14′. Likewise, the vertical cross dimension or heightdimension of a portion of the rear substrate 14′ (such as approximatelyhalf of the rear substrate) is greater than the height dimension of thecorresponding portion of the front substrate 12′ (and greater than theremaining portion of the rear substrate) so that when the upper edges ofthe front and rear substrates are substantially aligned or flush withone another, the lower edge region or tab portion 20′ of the rearsubstrate 14′ extends beyond the corresponding lower edge region of thefront substrate 12′. The tab portion 18′ of the front substrate 12′ thusestablishes an overhang region or connecting tab for facilitatingelectrical connection to the transparent conductor 22′ at rear surface12 a′ of front substrate 12′, such as via an electrical clip or thelike, while the tab portion 20′ of the rear substrate 14′ establishes anoverhang region or connecting tab for facilitating electrical connectionto the conductor 24′ at front surface 14 a′ of rear substrate 14′, suchas via an electrical clip or the like.

Thus, the reflective element assembly 10′ provides isolated connectingtabs or regions 18′, 20′ for establishing the electrical connection tothe respective conductive coating or coatings 22′, 24′. As can be seenin FIG. 2, the connecting tabs 18′, 20′ are established at and alongseparate or isolated lower perimeter edge regions or lower portions ofthe reflective element assembly so as to provide substantially isolatedconnecting tabs. In the illustrated embodiment, a gap 28′ is establishedbetween the tabs when the reflective element is assembled tosubstantially electrically isolate the tabs from one another (althoughother isolation means, such as a non-conductive isolation element or thelike, may be disposed between the tabs to electrically isolate the frontsubstrate connecting tab from the rear substrate connecting tab).

The reflective element assembly 10′ thus provides for enhancedelectrical connection to the conductive coatings while providing areduced height profile of the reflective element assembly and thus areduced overall height of the assembled mirror as installed in thevehicle. Although shown as having each tab portion 18′, 20′ extendingalong the bottom or lower edge region of the reflective elementassembly, it is envisioned that the tab portions may otherwise extendalong the upper edge region or along one or both of the side regions ofthe reflective element assembly, depending on the particular applicationof the reflective element assembly. Also, although shown as having eachtab portion extending about half the length of the reflective elementassembly, it is envisioned that the tab portions may extend otherdistances along the perimeter edge region at which they are establisheddepending on the particular application of the reflective elementassembly.

Optionally, and as shown in FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B, the reflective elementassembly 10′ may be configured for use with a display element or displayscreen 32′ or the like disposed at the rear of the reflective elementand operable to project or emit illumination or display informationthrough the reflective element for viewing by the driver of the vehiclewhen the mirror assembly is normally installed in the vehicle. Thereflective element assembly may include a window 30′ established throughthe third surface reflector 24′ or the third surface reflector 24′ maycomprise a transflective reflector that is partially reflectant of lightincident thereon and is partially transmissive of at least the lightemitted by the display element disposed to the rear of the reflectiveelement assembly.

The display element may comprise any suitable display element or device,such as, for example, a video display element or device or the like, andmay be a display-on-demand or transflective type display or otherdisplay, such as by utilizing aspects of the displays described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,543,947; 7,494,231; 7,490,007; 7,370,983; 7,274,501;7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 7,167,796; 6,690,268; 5,668,663 and/or5,724,187, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724, filedJun. 13, 2005 by Hutzel et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE(Attorney Docket DON01 P-1123); Ser. No, 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005by Karner et al. (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1236); Ser. No. 11/912,576,filed Oct. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,626,749; Ser. No. 11/861,904,filed Sep. 26, 2007 (Attorney Docket MAG04 P-1381); and/or Ser. No.12/414,190, filed Mar. 30, 2009 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1509), and/orPCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 15, 2006 byDonnelly Corp. et al., and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.61/105,903, filed Oct. 16, 2008; Ser. No. 61/117,301, filed Nov. 24,2008; and/or Ser. No. 61/180,257, filed May 21, 2009, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or mayinclude or incorporate video displays or the like, such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,370,983; 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,184,190;and/or 6,690,268 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724,filed Jun. 13, 2005 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1123); and/or Ser. No.12/091,525, filed Apr. 25, 2008 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1300), and/orPCT Application No. PCT/US2006/042718, filed Oct. 31, 2006; and U.S.provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/836,219, filed Aug. 8, 2006; Ser.No. 60/759,992, filed Jan. 18, 2006; and/or Ser. No. 60/732,245, filedNov. 1, 2005, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Optionally, the mirror assembly may include a video displaythat is selectively positionable, such as extendable/retractable orpivotable or foldable so as to be selectively positioned at a side orbelow the mirror casing when in use and storable within or at leastpartially within the mirror casing when not in use. The display may beautomatically activated and/or may automatically extend/pivot to anin-use position in response to an actuating event, such as when theplayback device is activated (and/or optionally, when the display isassociated with a rearward vision system or back up aid, when thevehicle is shifted into its reverse gear).

Optionally, for example, the display may comprise a 3.5 inch (or largeror smaller depending on the particular application) touch screen and/orvideo display. For example, the display may comprise a backlit videodisplay such as the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983, and/orU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005(Attorney Docket DON01 P-1123); and/or Ser. No. 12/091,525, filed Apr.25, 2008 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1300); and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2006/042718, filed Oct. 31, 2006, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, and/or may utilize aspects ofthe displays and/or touch screens described in; and/or Ser. No.12/414,190, filed Mar. 30, 2009 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1509), which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Optionally, theintensity of the display may be automatically adjusted to automaticallydim the backlighting of the display element, such as in response to aphoto sensor at the mirror assembly. The intensity of the display maythus be increased when the photo sensor senses an increase in ambientlighting so that the user may readily view and discern the display inhigh ambient lighting conditions, such as a sunny day, and may bedecreased when the photo sensor senses a decrease in ambient lighting sothat the display is not too bright in low lighting conditions to avoidbeing a distraction to the driver of the vehicle.

Optionally, the display may be operable to display information forviewing by the driver of the vehicle and also to display information orvideo for viewing by the passenger of the vehicle. For example, theoutput of the docking station that is received by the receiver at themirror assembly may include video data (such as a movie or the like thatis played by the playback device) for viewing by the passenger of thevehicle while the driver is driving the vehicle. Thus, the display maybe configured such that the video is viewable by the passenger butsubstantially or principally not viewable by the driver of the vehicle(while other information, such as the selection menus and the like, maybe viewed by the driver of the vehicle). The display may include louversor microlouvers (such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,764,410;4,766,023; 4,906,085; 5,254,388; 5,303,322; 5,313,335; and 5,481,409,and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 15, 2006 byDonnelly Corp. et al., and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/042718,filed Oct. 31, 2006; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/091,525,filed Apr. 25, 2008 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1300); and/or Ser. No.11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,626,749, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), such as ata video display portion of the display to direct the video displaytoward the passenger side (and maybe downward as well) to enhanceviewing of the video display by a person sitting in the front passengerseat of the vehicle, while another display portion includes louvers ormicrolouvers that direct the menu information at the other displayportion toward the driver of the vehicle for viewing by the driver.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said interiorrearview mirror assembly comprising: a mirror reflective elementcomprising a front substrate and a rear substrate and an electrochromicmedium sandwiched therebetween; wherein said front substrate has a firstsurface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said secondsurface having a transparent electrically conductive layer establishedthereat; wherein said front substrate has a circumferential perimeteredge extending between and connecting said first and second surfaces;wherein said front substrate has a length dimension and a first widthdimension and a second width dimension and wherein said first widthdimension is greater than said second width dimension; wherein said rearsubstrate has a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said thirdsurface, said third surface having an electrically conductive layerestablished thereat; wherein said rear substrate has a circumferentialperimeter edge extending between and connecting said third and fourthsurfaces; wherein said rear substrate has a length dimension and a thirdwidth dimension and a fourth width dimension and wherein said thirdwidth dimension is greater than said fourth width dimension; whereinsaid electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavityestablished between said third surface of said rear substrate and saidsecond surface of said front substrate and bounded by a perimeter sealdisposed between and spacing said front and rear substrates apart toestablish said interpane cavity; wherein, when said front and rearsubstrates are joined by said perimeter seal, said front substrateextends beyond said perimeter seal to establish a front connectingportion at a side of said reflective element and said rear substrateextends beyond said perimeter seal to establish a rear connectingportion at said side of said reflective element, and wherein said frontsubstrate comprises said first width dimension at said front connectingportion and said rear substrate comprises said third width dimension atsaid rear connecting portion; wherein electrical connection to saidtransparent electrically conductive coating at said second surface ofsaid front substrate is established at said front connecting portion ofsaid front substrate and electrical connection to said electricallyconductive coating at said third surface of said rear substrate isestablished at said rear connecting portion of said rear substrate,wherein said front and rear connecting portions of said front and rearsubstrates are situated one from another along said side of saidreflective element; and wherein said circumferential perimeter edges ofsaid front and rear substrates are generally aligned except along saidside of said reflective element.
 2. The interior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 1, wherein said side and said front and rearconnecting portions are established along a lower perimeter portion ofsaid circumferential perimeter edges of said front and rear substratesof said reflective element when said interior rearview mirror assemblyis normally mounted in a vehicle.
 3. The interior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 1, wherein said front connecting portion of said frontsubstrate extends outboard from said perimeter seal beyond acorresponding perimeter edge portion of said rear substrate, and whereinsaid rear connecting portion of said rear substrate extends outboardfrom said perimeter seal beyond a corresponding perimeter edge portionof said front substrate.
 4. The interior rearview mirror assembly ofclaim 3, wherein said front connecting portion is established at andalong a rear non-connecting portion of said rear substrate and said rearconnecting portion is established at and along a front non-connectingportion of said front substrate, wherein said rear substrate comprisessaid fourth width dimension at said rear non-connecting portion and saidfront substrate comprises said second width dimension at said frontnon-connecting portion.
 5. The interior rearview mirror assembly ofclaim 4, wherein said front and rear connecting portions extend furtheroutboard of said perimeter seal than said front and rear non-connectingportions to facilitate said electrical connections.
 6. The interiorrearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said perimeter seal isdisposed in closer proximity to said circumferential perimeter edges ofsaid front and rear substrates as compared to the proximity of saidperimeter seal to a perimeter edge of said front and rear connectingportions of said front and rear substrates.
 7. The interior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said side of said reflective elementcomprises a gap between said front and rear connecting portions, andwherein said front substrate comprises said second width dimension atsaid gap and said rear substrate comprises said fourth width dimensionat said gap so as to provide substantially electrically isolated frontand rear connecting portions.
 8. The interior rearview mirror assemblyof claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive layer comprises a layerof a mirror reflector established at said third surface of said rearsubstrate.
 9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, whereinsaid mirror reflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector that ispartially transmissive of visible light incident at a rear of saidreflective element and that is partially reflective of visible lightincident at a front of said reflective element, and wherein a displaydevice is disposed behind said reflective element and is operable todisplay information through said transflective mirror reflector forviewing by a driver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirrorassembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.
 10. An interior rearviewmirror assembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assemblycomprising: a mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate anda rear substrate and an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween;wherein said front substrate has a first surface and a second surfaceopposite said first surface, said second surface having a transparentelectrically conductive layer established thereat; wherein said frontsubstrate has a circumferential perimeter edge extending between andconnecting said first and second surfaces; wherein said rear substratehas a third surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface,said third surface having an electrically conductive layer establishedthereat; wherein said rear substrate has a circumferential perimeteredge extending between and connecting said third and fourth surfaces;wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavityestablished between said third surface of said rear substrate and saidsecond surface of said front substrate and bounded by a perimeter sealdisposed between and spacing said front and rear substrates apart toestablish said interpane cavity; wherein, when said front and rearsubstrates are joined by said perimeter seal, said front substrateextends beyond said perimeter seal to establish a front connectingportion at a first perimeter region of said reflective element and saidrear substrate extends beyond said perimeter seal to establish a rearconnecting portion at a second perimeter region of said reflectiveelement, and wherein said first perimeter region comprises one of alength portion and a width portion of said reflective element and saidsecond perimeter region comprises the other of a length portion and awidth portion of said reflective element; wherein electrical connectionto said transparent electrically conductive coating at said secondsurface of said front substrate is established at said front connectingportion of said front substrate and electrical connection to saidelectrically conductive coating at said third surface of said rearsubstrate is established at said rear connecting portion of said rearsubstrate; and wherein said circumferential perimeter edges of saidfront and rear substrates are generally aligned except along said firstand second perimeter regions of said reflective element.
 11. Theinterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said frontsubstrate comprises a front length dimension and a front width dimensionand wherein said rear substrate comprises a rear length dimension and arear width dimension, and wherein said front length dimension isdifferent from said rear length dimension and said front width dimensionis different from said rear width dimension.
 12. The interior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 11, wherein said front width dimension isgreater than said rear width dimension and said rear length dimension isgreater than said front length dimension.
 13. The interior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said front connecting portion ofsaid front substrate extends outboard from said perimeter seal beyond acorresponding perimeter edge of said rear substrate, and wherein saidrear connecting portion of said rear substrate extends outboard fromsaid perimeter seal beyond a corresponding perimeter edge of said frontsubstrate.
 14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 13,wherein said front connecting portion is established at and along a rearnon-connecting portion of said rear substrate at said first perimeterregion and said rear connecting portion is established at and along afront non-connecting portion of said front substrate at said secondperimeter region, and wherein said front and rear connecting portionsextend further outboard of said perimeter seal than said front and rearnon-connecting portions to facilitate said electrical connections. 15.The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein saidelectrically conductive layer comprises a layer of a mirror reflectorestablished at said third surface of said rear substrate.
 16. Theinterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein said mirrorreflector comprises a transflective mirror reflector that is partiallytransmissive of visible light incident at a rear of said reflectiveelement and that is partially reflective of visible light incident at afront of said reflective element, and wherein a display device isdisposed behind said reflective element and is operable to displayinformation through said transflective mirror reflector for viewing by adriver of the vehicle when said interior rearview mirror assembly isnormally mounted in the vehicle.
 17. An interior rearview mirrorassembly for a vehicle, said interior rearview mirror assemblycomprising: a mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate anda rear substrate and an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween; afront substrate having a first surface and a second surface oppositesaid first surface, said second surface having a transparentelectrically conductive layer established thereat; wherein said frontsubstrate has a circumferential perimeter edge extending between andconnecting said first and second surfaces; a rear substrate having athird surface and a fourth surface opposite said third surface, saidthird surface having an electrically conductive layer establishedthereat; wherein said rear substrate has a circumferential perimeteredge extending between and connecting said third and fourth surfaces;wherein said electrochromic medium is disposed in an interpane cavityestablished between said third surface of said rear substrate and saidsecond surface of said front substrate and bounded by a perimeter sealdisposed between and spacing said front and rear substrates apart toestablish said interpane cavity; wherein, when said front and rearsubstrates are joined by said perimeter seal, said front substratecomprises a first cross dimension that is greater than a correspondingcross dimension of said rear substrate so as to establish a frontconnecting portion of said front substrate along a first perimeterregion of said reflective element; wherein, when said front and rearsubstrates are joined by said perimeter seal, said rear substratecomprises a second cross dimension that is greater than a correspondingcross dimension of said front substrate so as to establish a rearconnecting portion of said rear substrate along a second perimeterregion of said reflective element; wherein, when said interior rearviewmirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle, one of said first andsecond cross dimensions comprises a generally vertical width dimensionof said front and rear substrates and the other of said first and secondcross dimensions comprises a generally horizontal length dimension ofsaid front and rear substrates; wherein electrical connection to saidtransparent electrically conductive coating at said second surface ofsaid front substrate is established at said front connecting portion ofsaid front substrate and electrical connection to said electricallyconductive coating at said third surface of said rear substrate isestablished at said rear connecting portion of said rear substrate; andwherein said circumferential perimeter edges of said front and rearsubstrates are generally aligned except along said first and secondperimeter regions of said reflective element.
 18. The interior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 17, wherein, when said interior rearview mirrorassembly is normally mounted in a vehicle, said first cross dimensioncomprises a generally vertical width dimension of said front substrateand said second cross dimension comprises a generally horizontal lengthdimension of said rear substrate.
 19. The interior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 17, wherein said front and rear connecting portionsare situated one from another along a side of said reflective element,and wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normallymounted in a vehicle, said first cross dimension comprises a firstgenerally vertical width dimension of said front substrate and saidsecond cross dimension comprises a second generally vertical widthdimension of said rear substrate.
 20. The interior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 17, wherein said electrically conductive layercomprises a layer of a mirror reflector established at said thirdsurface of said rear substrate.
 21. The interior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 20, wherein said mirror reflector comprises atransflective mirror reflector that is partially transmissive of visiblelight incident at a rear of said reflective element and that ispartially reflective of visible light incident at a front of saidreflective element, and wherein a display device is disposed behind saidreflective element and is operable to display information through saidtransflective mirror reflector for viewing by a driver of the vehiclewhen said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in thevehicle.